The proposed site for Martin’s Creek Townhomes from the only access on Giles Lane in Chichester Estates.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Neighbors expressed concerns about a 29-unit project between Chichester Estates and Gardnerville Elementary School last week.
Douglas County planning commissioners recommended approval at their Feb. 11 meeting of Martin Creek 6-1 with Laurie Lile voting against the project.
Douglas County commissioners will have final say on the project at their March 6 meeting.
The project’s only access is from Giles in Chichester Estates. Planning commissioners approved a condition that the developer approach the Douglas County School District about the possibility of installing a gate in the fence next to the project to provide an emergency exit.
Planning commissioner Bryce Clutts clarified that the condition is just to approach the district, not that the district must approve the gate.
Usually, Douglas County requires a second access to developments of 20 homes or more, but Engineer Rob Anderson pointed out that the rule doesn’t apply to multi-family projects, which are sprinklered.
The project consists of eight single-family attached units and 21 townhomes. Those purchasing units would own the building footprint and have an ownership interest in the common areas.
The roads in the project would be privately owned and maintained
Lile said she voted against the tentative subdivision map because she felt it didn’t meet the transportation standard and that she felt it would be detrimental to the public and the school.
Retired Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Schemenauer pointed out that many of the homes in the Los Angeles fires also had sprinklers.
“Sprinklers don’t work if your house is on fire from the outside,” he said. “The streets in Chichester are in horrible shape. This is the second development squeezing our neighborhood.”
Neighbors along Edlesborough Circle were concerned that the project might include two story units.
Resident Marsha Williams said she was concerned that the construction traffic was going to be an issue.
This is actually the second time the project has been through the approval process. A prior approval for a single owner leasing the units was approved by the county last year.
Because the owner decided to sell the units instead, a subdivision map is required to go through the public process.
The project is fairly small compared to one on the north side of Chichester Estates. Ashland Park was approved for 190 units on 51 acres. That project is tied to Muller Lane Parkway north of Toler Lane but concerns about the timing of the parkway and litigation has delayed construction.
Under an agreement Ashland is allowed to build 100 units until Muller Lane is constructed. Once that happens the rest of the project could be built.
There has been a trial in the case between Ashland Park and Douglas County scheduled for April 2025 to determine the responsibility for drainage associated with the project.